Page:The Religion of the Veda.djvu/232

 2I6 The Religion of the Veda

The Vedic word for higher speculative discussion as a whole, and especially for the religious, mostly poetic, riddle is ﬁreﬂmoefycz or ﬁrm/marzeec‘zb/e, that is, “ analysis or speculation about the Jim/line, or relig» ion.” It is very generally carried on by two priests, one of Whom asks questions, the other answers them. It is a. kind of theological “ quiz,” prearranged by the two parties: questioner and responder know their

parts to perfection. At the horsesacriﬁce two priests ask and answer:

“ Who, verily, moveth quite alone; who, verily, is born again and again ; whet, forsooth, is the remedy for cold ;

and what is the great (greatest) pile ” P The answer is:

“ The sun moveth quite alone ; the moon is born again and again ; Agni (ﬁre) is the remedy for cold ; the earth

is the great (greatest) pile.” 1 The priest called Hotar asks the priest called Adhvaryu:

“ What, forsooth, is the sun~like light ; what see is there like unto the ocean; what, verily, is higher than the earth ; what is the thing whose measure is not known ” P

The answer is:

“ Brahma. is the sun-like light; heaven is theses like

z‘z‘am sf Ma Manic/i: Academy, 1875, 13. 7f: 0f the reprint ; Ludwig, Der ng- Veda, vol. iii., p. 390 f; the author, yearns! sf rim American Orimm! 5mm, vol. xv... p. 172.

1 Vijaseneyi Samhitﬁ. 23. 9 and m.